Aeroplane.



G. LEHBERGER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FlLED NDV-Z]. 1914- RENE-WED NOV 19,1915. 1,166,061,Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 $HEETSSHEET I- i 'vvuwzho o L GeozyeiekZeryer COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHCOHWASHINGTON, D4 c.

G. LEHBERGER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-27.

19M. RENEWED NOV. 19,1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wue/wlioz George Lewer aez,"

coLummA PLANOGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON, n. c.

e. LEHBERGER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.27. 1914. RENEWED NOV. 19. I915.

Patented De.28,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COUWASHINGTON. D. c.

TJ'NTTED STATE PATENT @FFTCE.

GEORGE LEHBERGER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AERQPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23,1915.

Application filed November 27, 1914, Serial No. 874,329. RenewedNovember 19, 1915. Serial No. 62,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen Lnnnnecnn, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to aeroplanes and it consists in the novelfeatures hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane having its partsarranged that it may be easily and quickly folded or collapsed forstorage, transportation or other purposes.

With this object in view the machine includes a main frame having aplane fixed thereon and planes pivotally mounted upon the frame at theside edges of the fixed plane and adapted to be positioned approximatelyhorizontal or vertical. The frame includes a tail piece or framehingedly connected with the main frame and which is adapted to be foldedor swung over the main frame when the parts of the machine arecollapsed.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an aeroplane means forlocating the center of gravity at a relatively low point with relationto the frame of the machine. This means also includes a stabilizingmeans which in part is automatically operated by the tilting of the mainframe and which when desired may be manually operated to preserve theproper stabilization of the main frame of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of theaeroplane. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3

is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detailed edge elevation of the upper forward part of themachine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the stabilizing means withparts in section. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a part of the stabilizingmeans. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of means for securing the tail framein fixed relation with respect to the main frame of the machine. Fig. 8is a perspective view of parts of the stabilizing means.

The aeroplane includes a frame 1 having ground wheels 2 suitablyjournaled at the lower portion thereof. A fixed plane 3 is mounted atthe top of the frame 1 and a tail frame 4 is hingedly connected with therear part of the frame 1. The frame 1 is provided with a rudder 5 and anoscillating plane 6. Cables 7 are suitably connected with theoscillating plane 6 at their rear ends and are connected at theirforward ends with a shaft 8 pivotally mounted upon the frame 1 in thevicinity of the operators seat 9. The frame 1 is provided at its rearend with sleeves 10 adapted to receive studs 11 carried by the lowerportion of the frame 4c and pins 12 are adapted to be passedtransversely through the sleeves 10 and studs 11 whereby the frame 1 isheld in alinement with the rear part of the frame 1 as indicated inheavy lines in Fig. 8. When it is desired to swing the frame 1 in anupward direction with relation to the frame 1 the pins 12 are removedfrom the sleeves 10 and studs 11 and then the frame 1 may be swung upand over the rear portion of the frame 1 as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 3.

Links 13 are pivotally connected at the sides of the forward portion ofthe frame 1 and planes 1% are pivotally connected with the outer or freeends of the links 13 located at the same side of the frame 1.. Cables 15are connected at one end with the outer portions of the planes 1-1 andat their other ends with. the forward portions of the frame 1 and serveas means for limiting the upward movement of the outer portions of theplanes 1% when the said planes are in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing. Cables 16 are connected at their outer ends with theouter portions of the planes 14: and at their inner ends are connectedwith blocks 17 which in turn are connected with cables 18. The cables 18are trained over pulleys 19 journaled at the upper part of the frame 1and then extend down and are adapted to be connected at their lower endswith hooks 20 mounted upon the frame 1. Cables 21 are connected with theouter portions of the links 13 and are trained over pulleys 22 journaledat the sides of the frame 1 and then under pulleys 23 journaled upon theframe 1 and the free ends of the cables 21 are adapted to be connectedwith cleats 2d mounted upon the frame 1 as best shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing.

Presuming that the parts are in the positions shown inlfeavy lines inFig. 2 and it is desired to bring the planes 14 to the positions shownin dottedlines in said figure the cables 21 are disconnected from thecleats 24: and are permitted to slacken while the vertical swingingmovement.

frame 1. The cables 21 are then drawn in and secured to the cleats 2aand at the same time the cables 18 are disconnected from the hooks 20and the outer portions of the planes 1st swing down while the innerportions of the said planes 1% swing in upward positions as shown indotted lines in Fig. 2. Thus the planes may be collapsed with relationto each other and the machine may be readily collapsed. I

An engine 25 is mounted upon the frame 1 and sprocket wheels 26 aremounted upon the shaft of the engine. Sprocket chains indicated at 27pass around the sprocket wheels 26 and around sprocket wheels 28 mountedupon the shafts of propellers journaled upon the frame. Therefore itwill be seen that when the engine 25 is in operation means is providedfor driving the propellers 29 and thus the machine may make headwaythrough the air.

A panel 30 is hingedly connected with the forward upper portion of theframe 1 for Fixed vertical panels 30 are located at the sides of theframe 1 beyond the ends of the panel 30. The said panel 30 when in ahorizontal position as indicated in solid lines in Fig. 3 isapproximately parallel with the forward portion of the plane 3 and whenthe panel 30 is swung to a vertical position substantially as indicatedby the dotted lines in Fig. 3 it is of such dimensions as to close thespace at the upper forward portion of the frame 1 immediately below theforward end of the plane 3 and between the forward ends of the panels 30thereby forming an air pocket or parachute. Beds 31 are connected attheir upper ends with the underside of the panel 30 and at their lowerends are pivotally connected with arms 32 fixed to a shaft 33 journaledfor turning movement at the upper forward portion of the frame 1. An arm3% is also fixed to the shaft 33 and the forward end of a rod 35 ispivotally connected with the arm 34 and the rear end of the said rod 35is pivotally connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 36- fulcrumedupon the frame 1; The other arm of the bell crank lever 36 is disposedto ward the seat 9. Therefore it will be seen that by swinging the bellcrank lever 36 the rod 35 will be moved longitudinally whereby the arm34 will be swung and the shaft 33 turned. The turning movement on thepart of the shaft 33 swings the arms 32 which in turn moves therods 31'longitudinally and thepanel 30 may be swung from a horizontal to avertical position and vice versa. VVhen' the panel 30 is in a verticalposition it substantially closes the space immediately below the plane 3and consequently the air is prevented from entering under the forwardportion of the plane 3. This forms an air pocket immediately behind thepanel which may serve as a parachute and stabilize the machine duringits descent. lVhen the panel 30 is moved to any position between ahorizontal and vertical position it will have a tendency to direct someof the air up against the under surface of the plane 3 and its inclinedposition will also have a tendency to direct the forward end of theframe 1 in adownward direction when the machine is in flight.

Hangers 37 are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the forwarduprights of the frame 1 and carry at their lower ends weights 33. Thehangers 37 are provided at their upper ends with'spring pressed pins 39which are normally in upper or projected positions by means of springsall; located within the hangers and hearing at their upper ends againstthe lower endsof the pins 39. The pins 39 are provided at their sideswith studs ll which extend through slots 42 provided at the sides of thehangers 37. Cams 12 are located at the sides of the uprights of theframe 1 to which the hangers 37 are pivoted and the said cams as projectinto the paths of movement of the studs 11 provided upon the pins 39.Levers 43 are pivoted upon the uprights ofthe frame 1 to which thehangers 37 are attached and the said levers are provided witharcuate'end portions 44 having notches as which normally receive theupper ends of the pins 39. The ends of the levers 13 are pivotallyeonnected by means of links 'tdwith the arms 32 hereinbefore described.

The hangers 37 and the weights 38 carried at the lower ends thereofnormally hang vertically with relation to the frame 1 and serve asstabilizing means for the frame and the machine and also serve as meansfor positioning the center of gravity of the machine relatively low. henthe shaft 33 is turned in order to move the panel 3Q in an upwarddirection the arm 32 is moved in an upward direction and consequentlythe links-16 are moved upwardly and the adjacent end of the lever 43 isalso moved in an upward direction. When this takes place the hangers 37are partially turned and the studs 41 are carried along the cams 4&2whereby the pins 39 are moved downwardly along the hangers 37 againstthe tension of the springs 40 and the upper ends of the said pinsdisengage the notches 4L5, Consequently the panel 30 may be swung 'in anupward direction without swinging" the hangers 37 and the weights 38.However when the panel 30. is brought to a horizontal position as shownin 5 the notches 15 are immediately above the upper ends of the pins 39and the springs 40 force the upper ends of the said pins into engagementwith the said notches. If the rear portion of the frame of the machineshould dip in a downward direction while the panel 30 is horizontal thehangers 37 and weights 38 will swing rearwardly and the pins 29 willdisengage the notches 45 as hereinbefore described. If liowever the rearof the frame 1 swings in an upward direction the hangers 37 and weight38 swing in a forward direction and the arms 43 are turned whereby thepanel 30 is moved from a horizontal to an angular position. This willhave a tendency to stabilize the machine when in flight and inasmuch asthe hangers 37 and weights 38 will tend to maintain true verticalposition should the forward portion of the frame 1 dip in a downwarddirection the panel 30 is swung in a downward direction from theposition as shown in Fig. 5 and consequently greater surface ispresented to the air below, which will have a tendency to raise theforward portion of the frame 1. If the machine while in the air startsto slide downwardly and rearwardly the closing of the panel 30 willoperate to counteract this movement and the low center of gravity of themachine will bring the frame to a horizontal position. If the machinestarts to plunge downwardly and forwardly the closing of the panel 30effects the same results.

Therefore it will be seen that an aeroplane of simple and durablestructure is provided and that the parts are so assembled as to beeasily and quickly collapsed for transportation and other purposes, alsoa shiftable panel is provided at the forward portion of the frame of themachine and it may be readily adjusted to control the movement of themachine and a stabilizing device is pro vided for maintaining themachine in proper position during flight.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. An aeroplanecomprising a main frame, a plane fixed upon the main frame, planespivotally connected with the main frame and located at the side edges ofthe fixed plane and adapted to be moved on their pivots from positionsapproximately vertical at the side edges of the main frame to positionsapproximately horizontal with re lation to the same and also movablebodily toward and away from the main frame.

2. An aeroplane comprising a main frame, a plane fiXed to the mainframe, links pivotally connected to the main frame, planes pivotallyconnected with the outer ends of the links, means for swinging the linksinwardly with relation to the frame, and supporting cables connectedwith the outer portions of the pivoted planes.

3. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a plane carried by the frame, apanel hingedly connected with the frame for vertical swinging movement,means for swinging the panel, hangers pivotally connected with theframe, weights carried by the hangers,means for locking the hangers inengagement with the panel operating means and means for releasing thesaid hanger locking means.

4. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a plane mounted upon the frame, apanel hingedly connected with the frame, means for manually moving thepanel, hangers pivotally connected with the frame, spring pressed pinscarried by the hangers, weights carried by the hangers, levers fulcrumedupon the frame and provided with notches adapted to receive the pins,said pins having outstanding studs, cams located upon the frame in thepaths of movement of the studs and means operatively connecting thelevers with the panel operating means.

5. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a fixed plane mounted thereon, fixedpanels located below the fixed plane and at the sides of the frame, apanel pivotally mounted upon the frame below the fixed plane and betweenthe fixed panels, a weighted standard pivoted to the frame, meansnormally connecting the standard with the pivoted panel to cause thestandard and pivoted panel to swing simultaneously, means for swingingthe pivoted panel manually and means for interrupting the connection between the standard and pivoted panel when the pivoted panel is swungmanually.

6. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a plane carried by the frame, apanel hingedly connected with the frame at a point under said plane, ahanger pivotally connected with the frame and means for locking thehanger with relation to the panel.

7. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a plane carried by the frame, apanel hingedly connected with the frame, manually ope1-a ble means forswinging the panel, a hanger pivotally connected with the frame andmeans for locking the hanger with relation to the panel.

8. An aeroplane comprising a frame, a plane carried by the f ame, apanel hingedly connected with the frame at a point under said plane,manually operable means for swinging the panel, a hanger pivotallyconnected with the frame, means for locking the hanger with relation tothe panel, and means operable by the swinging movement of the hanger forreleasing the locking means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE LEHBERGER.

Witnesses John A. DONEAGH, GEO. A. BYRNE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

